Molecular survey of Babesia gibsoni using Haemaphysalis longicornis collected from dogs and cats in Japan.

Iwakami S, Ichikawa Y, Inokuma H - J. Vet. Med. Sci. (2014)

Bottom Line:
A total of 1,341 H. longicornis, including 305 females, 14 males, 332 nymphs and 690 larvae (153 pools) from 44 prefectures, were examined by B. gibsoni-targeted PCR.Partial sequence analysis revealed that 12 of 13 positive samples sequenced, including samples from Tottori, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi, Tokushima, Ehime and Oita prefectures (all in western Japan), were identical to B. gibsoni, and 1 sample from Kyoto Prefecture was most closely related to a Babesia species recently detected from feral raccoons in Hokkaido.H. longicornis is a candidate for transmission vector tick of the new Babesia species.

ABSTRACTA nationwide survey of Babesia gibsoni using Haemaphysalis longicornis collected from dogs and cats in Japan was conducted using molecular methods. A total of 1,341 H. longicornis, including 305 females, 14 males, 332 nymphs and 690 larvae (153 pools) from 44 prefectures, were examined by B. gibsoni-targeted PCR. Partial sequence analysis revealed that 12 of 13 positive samples sequenced, including samples from Tottori, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi, Tokushima, Ehime and Oita prefectures (all in western Japan), were identical to B. gibsoni, and 1 sample from Kyoto Prefecture was most closely related to a Babesia species recently detected from feral raccoons in Hokkaido. H. longicornis is a candidate for transmission vector tick of the new Babesia species.

Mentions:
A total of 13 tick samples removed from dogs in seven prefectures showed a single band of theappropriate size in the B. gibsoni-targeted PCR. None of the ticks collectedfrom cats gave positive results. Analysis of the partial sequences of the 13 PCR products(excluding the primer region) showed that 12 samples from Tottori, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi,Tokushima, Ehime and Oita prefectures were 100% identical to the registered sequences ofB. gibsoni isolates from Japan, such as B. gibsoni Asia-1(AF175300) (Fig. 1Fig. 1.

Mentions:
A total of 13 tick samples removed from dogs in seven prefectures showed a single band of theappropriate size in the B. gibsoni-targeted PCR. None of the ticks collectedfrom cats gave positive results. Analysis of the partial sequences of the 13 PCR products(excluding the primer region) showed that 12 samples from Tottori, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi,Tokushima, Ehime and Oita prefectures were 100% identical to the registered sequences ofB. gibsoni isolates from Japan, such as B. gibsoni Asia-1(AF175300) (Fig. 1Fig. 1.

Bottom Line:
A total of 1,341 H. longicornis, including 305 females, 14 males, 332 nymphs and 690 larvae (153 pools) from 44 prefectures, were examined by B. gibsoni-targeted PCR.Partial sequence analysis revealed that 12 of 13 positive samples sequenced, including samples from Tottori, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi, Tokushima, Ehime and Oita prefectures (all in western Japan), were identical to B. gibsoni, and 1 sample from Kyoto Prefecture was most closely related to a Babesia species recently detected from feral raccoons in Hokkaido.H. longicornis is a candidate for transmission vector tick of the new Babesia species.

ABSTRACTA nationwide survey of Babesia gibsoni using Haemaphysalis longicornis collected from dogs and cats in Japan was conducted using molecular methods. A total of 1,341 H. longicornis, including 305 females, 14 males, 332 nymphs and 690 larvae (153 pools) from 44 prefectures, were examined by B. gibsoni-targeted PCR. Partial sequence analysis revealed that 12 of 13 positive samples sequenced, including samples from Tottori, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi, Tokushima, Ehime and Oita prefectures (all in western Japan), were identical to B. gibsoni, and 1 sample from Kyoto Prefecture was most closely related to a Babesia species recently detected from feral raccoons in Hokkaido. H. longicornis is a candidate for transmission vector tick of the new Babesia species.